Trademarks in the Tourism Industry

    Trademarks in the Tourism Industry

    The tourism industry has seen a great deal of growth and development in recent times. Anyone who owns a tourism-related business should therefore seek trademark protection. Trademark services for businesses in the tourism industry can easily be accessed in any country.

    Acquiring this form of intellectual property protection will help them stand out in the increasingly competitive field of tourism. Examples of such tourism businesses which can apply for this form of intellectual property protection include travel agencies, hotels, and rental vehicle businesses. Intellectual property, including trademarks, is an exceptionally powerful tool in the industry. It helps with the creation of value and a competitive advantage. It also protects and boosts the reputation and profitability of any tourism business.

    Creation of a Distinctive Identity

    Trademarks, a vital type of intellectual property, allow tourism businesses to market themselves as being truly unique within the market. A memorable and distinctive trademark will allow the business to form a strong brand identity which attracts many customers. At the same time, it prevents anyone else from starting a business with a name which is either the same or too close to that of the trademarked business.

    By registering a trademark for a tourism-related business, the business will allow customers to associate the business with specific ideas, concepts, thoughts, and emotions. If the business involves travel to a specific location, the trademark can also provide visual and mental imagery of that location and what makes it truly special by using words, images, or themes that customers can easily associate with the location.

    Destination Branding

    Destination branding refers to the trademarking of geographical locations. It is a form of intellectual property which is not commonly used but is equally useful. Sometimes, names of geographical locations can be trademarked by regional or national authorities for tourism purposes. Authorities use this form of intellectual property protection to attract domestic and foreign tourists alike to those locations. Trademarks which pertain to locations are intellectual properties which create value by promoting those locations as viable tourist destinations. For this purpose, it is possible to register a trademark anywhere for certain words, slogans, logos, and other images. Destination branding is a crucial tool for increasing tourist arrivals because in a highly competitive market, a well-chosen brand and trademark will not only provide ample protection for intellectual property; they also do much to impress customers and win them over to the destination as well as the products and services found there.

    Franchising in the Tourism Industry

    The process of franchising takes place when a business owner permits another person to run the same business model with the associated trademark as well as other required intellectual properties. In the tourism industry, franchising is of great importance. Hotels, transportation providers, and travel agencies are usually franchised businesses which make use of the related intellectual properties. This model allows the franchisees to benefit from the advantage of a powerful trademark as well as other forms of intellectual property as they embark on their respective new business journeys.

    The Economic Impact of Tourism Industry Trademarks

    In regions in which tourism is a major contributor to the local economy, trademarks, like all other forms of intellectual property, provide a significant positive economic impact. In these areas, tourism businesses are not only money-making enterprises; they are also representatives of the local economy. Well-chosen, memorable trademarks are intellectual properties which allow these tourism businesses to portray the most favourable image possible to any prospective tourists and visitors. Since trademarks can increase a business’s profit margin by making it more attractive to customers, seeking intellectual property protection for the trademark of a tourism business helps to boost the local economy.
    It is not always easy to stand out in the crowded, volatile, and competitive tourism industry. However, if you own a tourism business, you can put it on the path to success by protecting it with a trademark. By understanding how this important type of intellectual property is used in the tourism industry and applying this knowledge, you can take your business to new heights and draw the attention of tourists from every corner of the globe.

    This article is brought to you by Exy Intellectual Property